Workbench support leg



Feb- 15, 1955 G. J. MucHl-:R

woRxBENcH SUPPORT LEG Filed July 18, 1952 Llllllnlllllmmlllul'llmlhglllumummm l INVENToR. Hevige f Iyar/Wl* lm, QMv Mud United States Patent O WORKBENCH SUPPORT LEG George J. Mucher, Rochester, N. H., assignor to Clarostat Mfg. Co., Inc., Dover, N. H., a corporation of New York Application July 18, 1952, Serial No. 299,529 2 Claims. (Cl. 311-109) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved work bench and especially a support by means of which that work bench may be provided.

It is a primary object to furnish a structure of this character which will adequately support relatively heavy units and adjacent which operators included in a line assembly may be positioned.

A further object is that of designing a work bench at which the operators may preferably sit without the necessity of having to straddle supports of the post and lintel type. Rather, the operators will have available full knee and foot space throughout the length of the bench even including the ends without this in any way affecting the adequacy of the supporting structure.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a work bench;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the supporting units forming a part of the assembly.

Referring primarily to Figs. 1 to 3, the numeral 5 indicates the topboard or deck of the bench adjacent the rear edge of which a backboard 6 is preferably secured. The latter may mount power outlets 7 if desired and the deck is conveniently divided into stations defined, for example, by units of machinery as indicated at S. These parts are mounted by supports generally indicated at 9 and extending between the lower face of the deck or topboard 5 and the floor. As suggested in Fig. 2, a motor 10 may be secured to the underface of the bench top or deck and serve to drive a shafting 11 conveniently supported by bearings 12 suitably associated with the members 9. Transversely extending supporting parts 5 may be attached to the underface of deck 5 and bear against the upper edges of supporting members 9. The latter can be arranged adjacent a rear wall.

Otherwise, pairs of members may be disposed in back- .y-

to-back relationship to provide for correspondingly disposed work benches.

These members have their several parts conveniently formed of angle iron. They might be formed of other materials. Where provided of metal, it is feasible to use in lieu of angle iron, pipe or other tubular elements, members which are U-shaped in section orof any other desired outline compatible with embodying adequate strength. The supports 9 as shown especially in Figs. 3 and 4 might be described as embodying a substantially K-shaped outline with the rear or vertical leg of that assembly disposed substantially in line with the rear edge of the deck 5.

Still with primary reference to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that each of the supports embodies a rear vertical leg 13 having its lower end terminating conveniently in a foot portion 14. A brace 15 has its lower end secured to leg 13 at a point preferably short of the lower end of the latter. This brace extends upwardly and forwardly, at an acute angle with respect to leg 13, to

terminate in a plane substantially equal to that in which the upper end of that leg terminates. A table supporting member 16 is preferably employed and has its rear end secured to leg 13 at a point adjacent the upper end of the latter. The forward end of member 16 is supported by the upper end of brace 15 and extends materially beyond that element so as to furnish a projecting portion 17. In certain instances, member 16 may be dispensed with. However, ordinarily it may be included to advantage.

A strut 18 has its rear end secured to brace 15 at a point intermediate the ends of the latter. This strut extends in an oblique direction forwardly and downwardly and has connected to its lower end a foot portion 19 at a point substantially in the same vertical plane as the upper end of brace 15. A prop 20 has its forward end connected to the strut adjacent the lower portion of the latter and extends upwardly and rearwardly so that it may be connected to brace 15 at a point below that at which strut 18 is connected to the same. With this arrangement of parts, prop 20 will extend substantially perpendicular with respect to brace 15 and together with the latter and strut 18 will provide a triangular structure. A second prop 21 has its opposite ends connected to the brace and leg 13 respectively. As shown, it is conveniently disposed in a plane substantially the same as that into which the upper end of strut 18 extends.

These several elements are connected to each other preferably by welding. However, any other desired form of connection would be satisfactory. Also, the foot portions and other parts of the assembly may be provided with openings 22. Through these may pass bolts or other securing elements. In addition to anchoring the deck or topboard in position, retaining elements of this character may serve to support a board or boards 23 in position upon the upper faces of props 20 and a shelf board or boards 24 upon the upper faces of props 21.

As a consequence of the K-shaped structure, it is apl parent that wide foot and knee spaces are provided. Ac-

cordingly the operators sitting in stools or chairs in front of the work bench will have a maximum amount of comfort and be capable of shifting their positions as desired. Their feet may rest upon boards such as 23. The props 21 need not necessarily support shelves 24. Even if they so support elements ofthis nature, the latter may serve numerous diierent purposes rather than mounting bearings 12. Again, the extended portion 17 contributes to the comfort of the operators. With the height of the assembly being adequate, that extened portion could also serve as a mounting for the supports of a conveyor belt, shelf, etc. (not shown).

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A work bench support including in combination a vertical rear leg, an upwardly extending brace having a lower end secured to said leg at a point below the centre of the latter, said brace being inclined forwardly of said leg and terminating substantially in the plane of the upper end thereof, an upwardly and rearwardly extending strut having a lower end forwardly of and in vthe plane of the lower leg end, said strut having an upper end secured to the forward surface of said brace at a point substantially midway between the ends of the latter, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined prop having a lower end connected to the rear surface of said strut adjacent the lower end of the latter, the upper end of said prop being connected to the forward surface of said brace at a point substantially midway between the lower end thereof and its point of connection with said strut, said leg, brace, strut and prop each including substantially straight bodies and said support being free from projecting parts to the rear of said leg whereby the latter may be disposed adjacent the face of a wall.

2. A work bench support as specified in claim 1 and including a further prop extending horizontally from the forward face of said leg to the rear surface of the brace and in the plane below that defined by the point of connection of the brace and strut. 1

302,081 Zeri' July 15, 1884 4 McElroy Jan. 12, 1889 Wegener Dec. 9, 1890 Secord Mar. 17, 1903 Schmitt Dec. 24, 1912 Belcher Nov. 20, 1917 Werner Nov. 12, 1918 Cook et al May 17, 1921 

